Spivak, D., Seidova, G. (2025) Comparative Mass Study of Religious Orientations of Present-Day Russian Citizens – МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫЙ ЖУРНАЛ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ

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Dimitri L. SPIVAK
D.S. Likhachev Russian Scientific Research Institute of Cultural and Natural Heritage
2, Kosmonavtov ul., Moscow, 129366 Russian Federation
Chair, UNESCO Chair on Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue, Head, Center for Fundamental Studies in Sphere of Culture
Doctor of Science (Philology, Psychology)
e-mail: d.spivak@mail.ru
ORCID: 0000-0001-7276-5182

Gulchokhra N. SEIDOVA
Derbent Affiliation, Daghestan State University
11, ul. G. Alieva, Derbent, Republic of Daghestan, 368600 Russian Federation
Associate Professor
Museum of History of World Cultures and Religions
30A, ul. Tagi-zade, Derbent, Republic of Daghestan, 368602 Russian Federation
Senior Research Fellow
Derbent State Historical Architectural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve
7, ul. Rzaeva, Derbent, Republic of Daghestan, 368600 Russian Federation
Chair, Northern Caucasus Affiliation of the UNESCO Chair on Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue
PhD (in Philosophy)
Associate Professor
e-mail: gseidova@yandex.ru
ORCID: 0000-0003-2382-7564

Spivak, D., Seidova, G. (2025) Comparative Mass Study of Religious Orientations of Present-Day Russian Citizens

Abstract: Group of 101 adherents of Judaism, men and women of different age, mostly dwelling in Daghestan, were interviewed by means of three standard questionnaires, two of which were constructed by Russian psychologists of religion, and one was a Russian version of the famous American Allport-Ross inventory of extrinsic / extrinsic religiosity. The study was implemented as part of a larger project of systematic research of problems and prospects of world religions in present-day world, conducted in the course of the latest decade by UNESCO Chair on Comparative Studies of Spiritual Traditions, their Specific Cultures and Interreligious Dialogue, under the auspices of International Network of UNITWIN / UNESCO Chairs in Interreligious Dialogue and Intercultural Understanding. As a result of the research, high level of religiosity of Judaists was demonstrated, as well as its essentially harmonious structure. As shown by detailed analysis of religious attitudes of different age / sex groups, existence of divide between young men and aged men formed the main peculiarity of attitudes of this ethnoreligious group: young men tended to be much less enthusiastic about practicing personal prayer, reading sacred books, performing religious rites, and paying regular visits to synagogue, than the aged ones. The latter were also much more intrinsically oriented than the young ones, and less susceptible to present-day non-traditional spirituality (women, both young and aged, tended to occupy intermediate positions between religiosity of these polar groups). These regularities seem to be quite constructive for the purposes of upgrading interreligious dialogue in the framework of both state cultural policies, and UNESCO strategy.

Key words: religious attitudes, religious psychology, Judaism, age / sex differences, mass studies, interreligious dialogue, UNESCO strategy.

References:

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For Citation:

Spivak, D., Seidova, G. (2025) Comparative Mass Study of Religious Orientations of Present-Day Russian Citizens. Paper 4: Judaists. International Journal of Cultural Research, 2 (59). 120–134. DOI: 10.52173/2079-1100_2025_2_120

DOI: 10.52173/2079-1100_2025_2_120